Schizophrenia Treatment Center in Tucson

Learn More About Treatment for Schizophrenia

Suffering from schizophrenia can be devastating and debilitating. It is a chronic mental illness that hinders a person’s ability to appropriately interpret the world around him or her. It is a disease that takes away a person’s ability to distinguish between what is real and what is not. Additionally, schizophrenia can take away an individual’s ability to think clearly, to use sound judgment, to make appropriate decisions, and to properly manage his or her emotions. While each person who suffers from this disorder will experience symptoms differently, they are all likely to find difficulty in functioning aptly on a daily basis. Yet, while there is no cure for schizophrenia, with proper treatment and the implementation of appropriate medications, people with this illness can begin to manage their symptoms and go on to lead happy, healthy, and productive lives.

Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital is a 140-bed leading acute inpatient psychiatric hospital in Tucson designed to provide optimal treatment for children, adolescents, and adults who are struggling with behavioral health and/or chemical dependency issues. We strive to stand out from our competitors by being the only inpatient facility in Arizona that accepts children as young as 5. The staff at Sonora recognizes the challenges that come with living a life tainted by schizophrenia and we want to show you that there is hope for the future. We want to help you rediscover the strength you already have while developing the tools you need to manage your symptoms and move forward towards living the life you deserve to live.

Helping a Loved One or Family Member Get Treatment

Schizophrenia is not only devastating for the individual suffering from the illness, but for the people in his or her life as well. Having a family member or loved one who has schizophrenia can be confusing, heart-breaking, and, at times, frightening. You have probably seen your loved one behaving in ways that do not make sense to you, responding to stimuli that is not actually there, or experiencing a true break from reality. You want to help your loved one, but you are unsure as to what you can do. Sadly, in many cases, individuals who have schizophrenia are not even aware of the fact that a problem exists, leaving the responsibility of finding treatment to fall on their loved ones. Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin to take the necessary steps to getting your loved the help that he or she needs:

• Learn about schizophrenia. By educating yourself on the illness itself, you can gain somewhat of an understanding as to what your loved one is experiencing.
• Talk to your loved one. Ask questions and truly listen to his or her answers. Even after you have learned about the illness, you will never truly know what it feels like to suffer from its symptoms, so be a source of support and compassion during your loved one’s battles.
• Research treatment options at a psychiatric treatment center that may potentially be able to meet your loved one’s needs.
• Help your loved one schedule appointments at different treatment centers or, if he or she is not capable of doing so, make the appointments for him or her.
• Go with your loved one to any appointments prepared to ask questions so that you can ensure that he or she finds the place that will best meet his or her needs.
• Remain supportive. Consistently remind your loved one that he or she does not have to go through this alone because you are there for him or her.

Why Consider Treatment at Sonora Behavioral Health

When people do not receive treatment for schizophrenia, the effects that the illness can have on their lives can be detrimental. Additionally, when symptoms are left untreated, they are likely to continuously worsen, leading some individuals to lose their jobs, fail academically, lose important relationships, and become incapable of functioning appropriately as they lose the ability to distinguish different aspects of the world around them.

The psychiatric care offered at our inpatient treatment center is the best in Tucson and is known to be extremely successful in helping individuals learn to manage their symptoms of schizophrenia. By entering into our inpatient treatment center, people are provided with a reprieve from the stresses of their daily lives, allowing them to focus solely on learning about their illness, developing skills to manage their symptoms, and, ultimately, becoming well once again. By taking part in this type of treatment, these individuals are also afforded the opportunity to begin an appropriate regimen of medication that will help alleviate their symptoms while being under the constant supervision of medical and mental health professionals. Inpatient treatment centers are a wonderful way to start down the path of getting your life back.

Schizophrenia Treatment Philosophy and Benefits

At our psychiatric treatment center, we make it our sole mission to provide superior behavioral healthcare services to the people, hospitals, and communities that we serve. By employing an evidenced-based treatment protocol that teaches effective coping skills, we are able to enhance our patients’ ability to remain successful after they are discharged from our care. Our highly qualified staff is dedicated to providing comprehensive medical and psychiatric assessments, diagnostic services, and thorough treatment. By caring for patients who are struggling with acute illnesses in a sensitive and caring manner, the staff at Sonora is able to assist those who come to us for help regain and maintain their highest level of functioning.

Types of Treatment Offered at Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital

Upon arrival at our psychiatric hospital, each patient will complete an initial assessment that will include a physical examination, a collection of medical history, a psychiatric evaluation, and a psychological assessment. During this time, we will also identify social skills, cultural and family issues, and determine any other needs that each patient may have. We use a multidisciplinary approach and our experienced clinical team is composed of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, internists, therapists, social workers, and expressive art therapists, all of whom are trained in treating individuals who are struggling with emotional health and substance abuse concerns. All treatment plans are individualized and include the following methods:

Medication management: Medication is a crucial aspect of properly treating the symptoms of schizophrenia. All patients are seen daily by a psychiatrist to ensure the effectiveness of any medications prescribed, as well as to make any changes that might be necessary. Additionally, all patients receive individual medication education in order to address any questions or concerns that may arise.

Group therapy: At our behavioral health treatment center, our main form of treatment is daily group therapy sessions. Rather than using process groups like many inpatient treatment programs do, we instead use solution-focused groups that teach patients a variety of skills needed to overcome their symptoms of schizophrenia. Some of our group topics include sleep, hygiene, coping skills, stress management, self-awareness, relaxation, and self-help skills training.

Family meetings: Family members are encouraged to be actively involved in all aspects of the treatment process. Education about their loved one’s condition is provided and family members are in constant communication with case managers throughout their loved one’s stay.

Additional treatment methods may include the following:

• Daily meetings with a social worker
• Recreation therapy
• Expressive therapy, including art therapy
• Weekly dietary groups

Continuing Care and Levels of Treatment

The discharge planning process begins as soon as a patient is admitted to our hospital. Within 48 hours of admission, a social worker will evaluate each patient for available resources that can be implemented once he or she has left our center, including placement, transportation, and aftercare treatment. When the time comes for the patient to be discharged, the social worker will coordinate placement with the patient, the patient’s family members, any outside community agencies, or private insurance. If needed, social workers will also coordinate transportation from the hospital to the patient’s next placement on the day of discharge, as well as ensure that transportation needs for aftercare treatment appointments are met.

For adult patients that no longer require the intensive level of psychiatric care provided by inpatient treatment, Sonora Behavioral Health offers outpatient treatment that consist of nine to twelve hours of group therapy each week. These groups allow participants to process real-life scenarios as they happen, while also receiving the support they need as they practice the new techniques that they are learning. This eight to twelve week period of intensive treatment gives participants the chance to use a group setting to work through emotional and psychological issues that keep them locked in a state of distress. Through our outpatient programs, patients will learn techniques that they will continue to use for the rest of their lives.

Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) and our intensive outpatient program (IOP) allow patients to live at home and attend school or go back to work while still receiving the treatment that they need. PHP is held 5 days a week for 6 hours a day, while IOP is held 3 days a week for 3 hours a day. Both programs have a mental health and chemical dependency track. In addition to PHP and IOP, we have an aftercare program for alumni that is held once a month for as long as patients need.